Turmeric Coconut Oil Toothpaste

Turmeric Coconut Oil Toothpaste

Have you ever questioned some of the ingredients in popular brands of toothpastes?

Me too. I can’t even pronounce some of the them!

But it really hit home when I read the highly rated book Cure Tooth Decay by Ramiel Nagel, who argues that some the ingredients in conventional toothpaste may even do more harm than good.

The ingredients that rang the loudest alarm bells to me were:

• Fluoride (linked to fluorosis in children)
• Propylene Glycol (a known irritant)
• Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (linked to cancer, neurotoxicity, organ toxicity, skin irritation and endocrine disruption)
• Artificial sweeteners – (some kids toothpastes are sweetened with sweeteners such as aspartame, which has been linked with a host of potential health issues – from headaches to diabetes.)

I didn’t really want to risk any of these potentially toxic substances going into my mouth twice a day, so despite being just a little dubious, I decided to take the plunge and make my own toothpaste with three frequently used items in my food cupboard.

Turmeric, coconut oil and baking soda.

The verdict? I really love it!

It does takes a bit of getting used to, as the texture is a little different to commercial toothpaste. But my mouth and breath both feel clean and fresh and I love the fact I’ve made the toothpaste myself. Plus of course – it’s completely natural.

What’s So Great About Coconut Oil and Turmeric For Oral Health?

According to the Indian Society of Periodontology, turmeric has comparable anti-plaque, anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties to more traditional mouthwashes.

In fact, turmeric was shown to be very effective at preventing plaque build-up and bad breath, due to it’s anti bacterial properties (source).

With regards to coconut oil, a whopping 50% of the fat in coconut oil is comprised of lauric acid.

Lauric acid is well known for its antimicrobial actions and it actually inhibits Strep mutans – the primary bacteria that cause tooth decay (source).

Here’s how to whip up your own turmeric coconut oil toothpaste in 3 simple steps.

How To Make Turmeric Coconut Oil Toothpaste

Turmeric Coconut Oil Toothpaste – What You’ll Need:

• 1 teaspoon baking soda* (I use this one as it’s not been treated with chemicals in its production)
• Few drops of food grade peppermint oil (optional for added minty freshness)

*The baking soda as a gentle abrasive, but you can leave this out if you prefer.

Turmeric Coconut Oil Toothpaste: The Instructions:

Step 1

Pop your coconut oil, turmeric and baking soda into a bowl and mash well with a fork, until you get a smooth consistency, making sure all the ingredients are well combined.

Note: Make sure the coconut oil is at room temperature, so it’s a softish consistency, or you’ll have trouble mixing it into the other ingredients.

Step 2

Put the paste into a small airtight container (I love small Mason Jars) and your turmeric coconut oil toothpaste is ready to use.

It’s that easy.

As with any ingredients, fresher is better, so I tend to make a smallish amount of turmeric coconut oil toothpaste and then make more every week or so, or as needed.

Optional Step 3

You can also add a few drops of peppermint oil for a fresher taste.

Will I End Up With Yellow Teeth?

That’s what I thought, but, no you won’t!

Turmeric can indeed stain (you should see my tea towels), so use the toothpaste with care – however, it won’t stain your teeth.

In fact, used on a regular basis, turmeric is considered by many to be a natural way to whiten your teeth (instead of the sometimes harmful teeth whitening methods readily available online or in some beauty salons.) Just make sure you rinse your mouth well and you’ll never know you had a bright yellow spice on your teeth at all!

If you don’t want to use turmeric though, coconut oil, baking soda and a few drops of peppermint oil will also work just fine as a homemade toothpaste.

Like anything, it’s best to try it out, see what you think and then, if necessary, adapt to suit your own personal preference.

Still Not Sure? Try a Ready Made Tooth Powder Instead

I love the fact turmeric coconut toothpaste is both completely natural and also cheap to make, plus I like the alkalising nature of the baking soda on my mouth.

But it’s not for everyone, so another option which Ramiel Nagel strongly recommends in Cure Tooth Decay is a remineralising tooth powder.

I live in the UK and have recently started using (and really like) Herbal Tooth & Gum Remineralising Powder by Laila London. I use this as well as my homemade toothpaste.

Another popular remineralising tooth powder is Christopher’s Original Tooth Powder.

Ramiel Nagel also recommends this tooth and gum powder (only available in US I think).

Whatever you choose to use, I hope it works well for you.

If you liked this recipe, you might also like:

• How to Make Turmeric Ginger Tea

Coconut Oil & Natural Remedy Books I Love

If you also like using coconut oil in cooking, I can recommend the Lucy Bee recipe book, Coconut Oil: Nature’s Perfect Ingredient. It includes over 300 recipes using coconut oil – from breakfast, lunch and supper ideas to soups, sides and desserts.

For homemade natural remedies, which use a whole range of natural ingredients, I also really love Natural Beauty: 35 Homemade Projects For Homemade Beauty, by Karen Gilbert.

The book includes a number of recipes using coconut oil, including a lovely body scrub and lip balm.

Have you made your own homemade toothpaste or natural remedy?

Original article and pictures take http://www.onemumandalittlelady.com/turmeric-coconut-oil-toothpaste/ site